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Satsumas in Seattle

So I told you I did some traveling over the long weekend, but I don’t think I told you where I went! Well if the blatant title of this post doesn’t clue you in, maybe it would help to know that the gorgeous picture you see above is of Lake Washington.

I’ve always heard great things about how beautiful Seattle is, but I had never seen it for myself. Now that I have, I can say that the vibrant green of the trees in winter, and the calming blue of the lake that outlines the city definitely live up to their reputation. And the mountains in the distance, well they just take your breath away. It’s a city worth a thousand pictures, none of which can capture its beauty any better than your very own eyes. Needless to say, I fell in love as soon as I stepped out of the airport.

But of course, the measure of any city would not be complete without a statement about their food. I was hoping to run into some of my favorite Seattle food bloggers like Molly from Orangette or Shauna from Gluten-Free Girl but I had no such luck. But, I will say that the company I found myself surrounded by definitely had their fair share of knowledge about the foodways of Seattle.

Aside from the stereotype that Seattle natives are obsessed with coffee (which let me tell you is COMPLETELY true), I think I learned quite a bit about the foods local residents consume. With an ocean at their fingertips, they have access to fresh wild fish. One of the meals I had at someone’s home was fresh Wild King salmon which is supposed to be much healthier than the stuff we generally consume back here in Chicago.

Many of my hosts just loved to cook; there was such an appreciation for organic and fresh ingredients – from a cauliflower and sweet potato soup to a fresh blueberry cake; all of which were delicious. I discovered tea extract for the first time – which is a liquid you that you pour into hot water for instant tea, and I even learned all about boya like I told you. It was a food enthusiast’s paradise, and while most things I discovered are not native to Seattle, it was interesting to see how different a way of life can be in another city.

But my favorite distinction of all was found at the dessert tables, where satsumas reigned the fruit bowls. What’s a satsuma you ask? A peelable and seedless mandarin orange that also goes by the name of Mikans in Japan. As I grabbed them out of the bowl, I was sure they were clementines, because back in Chicago that’s what we eat. Silly me was quickly corrected and told that they were satsumas I was eating. And, sure enough, the next day when we went to a local grocery store, what do we see?:

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http://cookiebakerlynn.blogspot.com Lynn

Glad you had a good time in Seattle. When the sun comes out, there’s nothing as beautiful. But we’re not all coffee obsessed – I only drink tea.

http://www.supperinstereo.com Hanne

This is interesting, because I grew up eating satsumas in western Canada. When I moved to Montreal, I discovered clementines. Maybe it’s a geographic thing, but I’d never encountered clementines until I moved East.

Your trip sounds great. I love Seattle. But I love Chicago too.

Melissa

Sounds yummy. :) They do look like Clementines.

Addie

The salmon that we buy in the store is usually Atlantic salmon and farm raised. A totally different creature than wild salmon. My fondest memory is going on the boat to McNeil Island and stopping at the little store and buying a piece of smoked salmon to eat on the way. What a great breakfast. Then I would stop on the way home and pick up some for supper.